I am absolutely over the moon – it has definitely been worth the wait.

Louise Hope

Mayor Barry Curran cut the ribbon at a ceremony to unveil the new venue at the bottom of Chester Road.

The Echo revealed in March that work on the project had ground to a halt after builder GB Building Solutions and parent company GB Group Holdings called in administrators.

Premier Inn cluster manager Louise Hope – responsible for the firm’s hotels across Wearside and South Tyneside – was delighted the latest addition was finally open after being hit by delays which were completely outside the company’s control.

“I am absolutely over the moon – it has definitely been worth the wait,” she said.

And she paid tribute to staff who had remained committed despite the uncertainty

“The important thing was to look after the team we had taken on and make sure they knew we had not given up on the building,” she said.

The opening of the new 125-bedroom hotel in Hind Street was followed by the unveiling of a winning artwork by Red House Academy student Ebony Harbron, who took part in a competition for year 11 pupils to submit a piece of art which reflected their views on Sunderland ‘Then and Now’.

The artwork will take pride of place in the hotel’s reception alongside a painting by runner-up Melanie Knightley.

“It gives me great pleasure today to officially open this wonderful, new Premier Inn hotel in Sunderland, which I’m sure will be a huge success, and of course to hear about the creation of so many jobs and apprenticeships, which is fantastic news for the area,” said Coun Curran.